Aeroplane.



P. D. RIORDAN.-

ABROPLANE.

APPLICATION IILBD PEB. 27,1911.

1,015,71 1. Patented .12.11.23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

BY W( t ATTUHNEYS' P. D. RIORDAN.

l AEROPLANE. APPLIOATION FILED 1111.211911.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEYS UNTTED STATES PATENT onirica.-

- lATRICiK D. RIORDAN, OF ARNOT, PENNSYLVANIA.

AEnorLANE.

Application filed February 2 Patented Jan. 23,1912.

To all whom if, may concern:

invention has in view is to provide an emergency righting device which may be manu-f ally arranged to correct the riding position of the aeroplane in the event of tilting or falling. n

With this.y object in view the invention consists inproviding for aeroplanes of usual constructionv an auxiliary plane ofrelatively small area, disposed above the body of the machine and operable manually to change the relative angle of the said auxiliary plane to the main yor carrying planes to present a resistancevto the "rush of air when falling. One embodiment ofthe present invention is disclosed in the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, in which like characters of reference enote corresponding parts in all the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of an aeroplane provided with a righting plane constructed and arranged in accordance with the presentinvention; Fig. 2 is a view of the same, showing the aeroplane in the position of falling and the righting plane as set to correct the riding position of the aeroplane; Fig. 3 is a detail view, on an enlarged scale, showing the righting plane and. means for mounting and controlling the same, the said plane being shown in.

normal position; and 4 is a similar view, the plane being shown in operative position.

As sho'wn in the accompanying dra-wings, the aeroplane is provided with a mast 9,

preferably constructed of hollow tubing.,

The l:fmast is pivotally Vmounted "on a stud 10 in the lower s ructure of, the aeroplane.

The said mast is extended through the upper plane and heldin position thereon by means 'of a collar 11. The collar 11 maybe xedly mounted on the mast 9 by any suitable means. The upper end forked, and is provided with a yoke 12, which yoke properly braces a horizontally disposedllshaft 13. The shaft 13 forms a pivot for the righting plane 14, the plane being provided` with hingelugs 15,'which lugs lare pierced to .formybearings on the of the mast 9 isshaft 13.' The shaft 13 is properly disposed and held in position relative to the lugs 15 by vineans of collars 16. i

The plane 14 is rocked about the shaft '13 from the position shown in full" lines in Fig. 3 to the position shown in dotted lines in v said figures. It is controlled in its movemcnt'by means. of a pull rod 17 "which is pivotallysecured to the plane '14 by an eyelet 18. The rod 17 is extended Vthrough a slot 19 in the side of the mast 9, and is-held the foot of the mast, the said rod extending through the hollow tube thereof. To negrmallylift the plane to the horizontal position there are provided springs 21. The springs 21 are, as. shown best in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings, connected'to the mast 9 at 22, and to veyelets 23 adjacent the edgeoil theplane 14. ln the vertical position of the plane 14 the springs 21 are bent substantially as shown in Fig. 4 ofthe drawings. When the plane 14 is inthe horizontal posilin position thereon by a collar 20 located at 'i tion, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the- 80 springs are substantially straight.

The pull rod 17 isjconstructedffas best shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, 'and is formed of spring metal bar of suitable size and resiliency. At the lowerend the rod is bent to form a stirriip loop 24 which is -extended through the slot 19 in convenient Y position for the foot of the aviator. Adjacent thel xed collar 20 with which the mast 9 is provided the rod 17 is attened to form the toothed section 25. Thesection 25 is provided with a seriesA of saw'teeth 26 upwardly faced, which may be extended under the collar 20 when the rod 17 is drawn down to extend the plane 14, as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings. It will'be noted that there are three teeth 26, this construction 'admitting of placing theiplane 14 at diiferent angles At the lower end of the,

section 25 are formed thefit'eeth 27.l The 'teeth 2'P-are faced downward and are provided to override the collarA 20 and maintain the plane 1411i the horizontal position. The plurality .ofteeth 27 permits a variable disposition of the plane 14 when approximately parallel with the line of flight. of the aeroplane. The rod 17 is further provided Jwith an 'extension 28, having formed 'in the end` thereof an eyelet 29 or other suitable devicewhereby the end may be'temporarily Secured to any sutable stanohion vor standing `xture securedto the frame of the` aeroiio shifted a of the plane to the line of fall or llight'of the machine.

the aeroplane. This movement of the plane 14 is imparted by the aviator pushing upon the stirrup loopv 24 to rotate the mast 9 when desired, the said loop being for that purpose loosened from, the frame member A.A By. providingv a foot mechanism for,

thus operating the mast 9 and plane 14, the aviator is left at liberty to use his hands in the. manipulation of the .various mechanisms provided for steering and guiding It will be noted that wherei desired the plane 14'may .be disposed .to assisty the rudder or levitating plane of the aeroplane. It will be understood thatlthe rotation of the mast 9 isreadily controlled by the movement of the aviator when the extension 28 is freed from the frame mem, ber A, the mast being freely rotated on the stud.10 and guided by the collars 11 and.v 30. To shift the' plane 14 from the horizontal position, as shown in F ig, 3, the aviator places his foot in the stirrup 24 and presses downward on the rod 17. To do this he rst releases the teeth 27 from engageinent with the collar 2O by moving. the stirrup. toward thel mast. The downward pull on the rod 17 rocks the plane 14 and uptilts the said plane to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and 1n full lines in Fig. 4. If thejplane 14 is to be'maintained in the position shown in Fig. 4 the aviator moves the stirrup 24` to permit the teeth 26 to engage the collar 20. The engagement bythe teeth 26 of the collar 20 maintains w of by means of guy wires 31, 31. The wires p 3l, 31- aresuitably secured to al collar 30, within which the mast 9 is rotatably mounted.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is v l. In an aeroplane, a mast erected substantially midships and rotatably mounted, having at the upper end thereoiI cross arms; an auxiliary plane pivotally mounted on said cross arms; means for rocking said aeroplane on said cross arms; and means for rotating said mast.

In an aeroplane, va mast rotatably mounted in t-he frame of said aeroplane and extended above the framing structure of said aeroplane; an auxiliary planepivotally mounted on said mast for disposition perpendicular to or parallel with said mast;l

manually operative means for rocking said auxiliary plane on said mast; and manually operative means for rotating said mast. In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

PATRICK D. RIORDAN. Witnesses LUKEMCCABE, 

